Rated of 5
by Mary Lou C. (Shenandoah Junction, WV)
Accidents of Providence
I love this book. Couldn't put it down. The story is set in England during an era of religious strife. I know very little about the Puritan time, but I felt the author took me back to this period and helped me understand how far we have come in civilization.
The cast of characters were believable and fascinating. The ending was a surprise. I didn't expect it.
Great read!
Rated of 5
by Jacquelyn H. (Blanco, TX)
MORE PLEASE!
From England in 1649, King Charles beheaded, Cromwell in charge, harsh times for women, comes a story of illicit love and an out of wedlock birth. This impressive first novel is masterfully written to give the reader the full impact of emotions during twists of plot in an historically accurate setting. A high interest story, the novel is packed with substance and surprise. Stacia Brown, more please!
Rated of 5
by Mary S. (Pinson, AL)
Wonderful Novel
Stacia Brown has written a great first novel. I stayed up until 2 in the morning to finish this book. It is that good. I am big historical fiction reader, but was not aware of the law of 1624 targeting unwed mothers who concealed the death of their illegitimate babies making the mothers guilty of murder. The story was so interesting and I will not forget Brown's character, Rachel Lockyer for a long time.
Rated of 5
by Shirley S. (Batavia, IL)
Accidents of Providence
A great 17th century history lesson of both customs and religion feed by a wonderful, descriptive writing style. The protagonist a strange but endearing character. One might guess the ending from the beginning but the journey is worth the taking. Never overly written, the narrative introduces a myriad of hamlet dwellers that become as endearing as the story.
Rated of 5
by Diane S. (Batavia, IL)
Accidents of Providence by Stacia Brown
It is the middle of the 1600's, and in Cromwell's Puritan England a law has been passed to prevent the Destroying and murdering of the children of unmarried woman. I have long been fascinated with the Puritans, their strange relationship with God, where everything pleasurable is a considered a sin, and woman on the fringes are looked on with suspicion. The character of Rachel, is one that will stay with me for a long time, she is so multifaceted and yet so human. It is not until the very end that we find out what happened to her child, among many twists and turns, an investigation and a trial. This book is very well researched, the writing very emotional and the politics of the day, the movement of the Levelers, adding much to the story line. Rachel's plight will touch the other characters in the book, changing many, in good and bad ways. As the investigator Bartwain comments while observing Rachel's trial, "We have decapitated our king and disbanded our House of Lords, and now there is no one left to restore reason and line and order." Life was extremely hard for all, but woman were so harshly judged and often had no recourse.
Rated of 5
by Lorraine R. (southampton, NY)
Acts of Providence
An intelligently written, carefully researched first novel, ACTS OF PROVIDENCE was both interesting and thought provoking to read. Stacia Brown brought the 1700's in London to life with her detailed description of how common people lived. She exposed the inequalities of the courts of law, in particular the complete denial of rights of women. She showed how vulnerable women were to their circumstances. both personal and public. This was an extremely well-written historical novel that blended political, religious and social beliefs of a revolutionary period of Britain's history.
Rated of 5
by Jane C. (Brighton, MI)
Accident of Providence
The year, 1649, the place, England. The rules of life in that century were very difficult for unwed mothers. This story tells of the life of one mother who gives birth and is charged with murder. Very well written, seemed like real life rather than fiction. Very difficult life in these early times.
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of 5
by Mary Lou C. (Shenandoah Junction, WV)
